Kyowa Kirin Plans the Creation of State-of-the-Art Research Hub to Further Strengthen Drug Discovery Capabilities – Following Stakeholder Consultation, new hub will deliver enhanced end-to-end collaboration across Drug Discovery, Translational Research and CMC as part of "Vision 2030 and Beyond" –
May 7, 2026
Tokyo, Japan, May 7, 2026 -- Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Abdul Mullick, "Kyowa Kirin", TSE: 4151) announced today that it plans to create a state-of-the-art research hub, to further improve its capabilities in drug discovery. The plan is to integrate two existing sites, the Fuji Site (Fuji Research Park [FRP]; Research Park Head: Satoshi Saeki / CMC R&D Center; Center Head: Hideo Takashima, Nagaizumi-cho, Sunto-gun, Shizuoka) and Tokyo Research Park [TRP] (Research Park Head: Rinpei Niwa, Machida-shi, Tokyo), into a new integrated research hub at Yokohama Business Park (Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa; "YBP"). Specific conditions and the implementation schedule will be determined through further reviews with relevant stakeholders. Following the potential launch of the new research hub, Kyowa Kirin is considering the closure of both the Fuji Site and Tokyo Research Park.
As drug discovery environments become increasingly challenging due to the emergence of new modalities, advances in AI, and growing technological complexity, Kyowa Kirin is advancing initiatives to further enhance the very way its research and development activities are conducted, guided by its mission to deliver life‑changing value to patients. Specifically, the company aims to create a research environment in which Drug Discovery, Translational Research (TR), and Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) engage in ongoing, day-to-day discussions from the early stages of research. By strengthening collaboration across these functions, Kyowa Kirin seeks to enable research design and faster decision‑making with downstream development and manufacturing in mind. Through these efforts, the company aims to increase both the speed and quality of research outcomes and enhance the overall competitiveness of its research and development capabilities.
The new integrated research hub represents one of multiple measures Kyowa Kirin is pursuing to enhance its drug discovery capabilities, building on the important role both research parks have played in Kyowa Kirin's history of research and drug discovery. The new hub will build on the strengths, expertise, and research culture developed at these sites, while exploring a research framework suited to the next era. This effort is a part of the company's growth story "Vision 2030 and Beyond".

Architectural Rendering

Entrance (image)
- *Conceptual images shown above are for the YBP Lab I Project currently under development by Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. and do not represent the actual facility under consideration.
"This integration of research sites is not simply a consolidation or relocation of facilities. It will be a strategic initiative to elevate Kyowa Kirin's drug discovery capabilities to the next level in the global competitive landscape," said Takeyoshi Yamashita, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of Kyowa Kirin. "Under our Vision 2030 and Beyond, we expect that closer integration of our research organization will significantly deepen collaboration across Drug Discovery, TR and CMC, thereby accelerating the research that leads to the creation of new medicines. By consolidating our research activities under an integrated research hub, we aim to create an environment where researchers can collaborate autonomously and across functions, strengthening our ability to continuously deliver life-changing value."
The Kyowa Kirin Group companies strive to contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world by creating new value through the pursuit of advances in life sciences and technologies.
Facility Overview
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| Location | Yokohama Business Park |
|---|---|
| Use | Drug discovery research, Translational Research (TR), CMC research and related activities |
| Key Features |
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| Owner | Nomura Real Estate Development Co., Ltd. |
- About Kyowa Kirin
- Kyowa Kirin aims to discover and deliver novel medicines and treatments with life-changing value. As a Japan-based Global Specialty Pharmaceutical Company, Kyowa Kirin has invested in drug discovery and biotechnology innovation for more than 70 years and is currently working to engineer the next generation of antibodies and cell and gene therapies with the potential to help patients with high unmet medical needs, such as bone & mineral, intractable hematological diseases/hemato-oncology and rare diseases. A shared commitment to Kyowa Kirin's values, to sustainable growth, and to making people smile unites Kyowa Kirin across the globe. You can learn more about the business of Kyowa Kirin at www.kyowakirin.com.